Alison Lam for Richmond Hill
Green Party of Canada

Brazil’s decision to host COP30 in Belém is framed as a symbolic gesture: a summit in the heart of the Amazon, where delegates can experience the urgency of climate change firsthand. But this gesture is pure climate theatre. What good is symbolism when the people most affected by climate change are priced out of involvement?

While Canadians, along with many other “democratic” societies, believe that we live in an environment with a fair and just electoral system, it is clear upon deeper inspection that the system actually changes the way citizens and voters think and feel about democracy and politics. A flawed electoral system doesn’t just skew results, it rewires our understanding of what is considered to be democratic.

Every year on July 1st, I find myself reflecting deeply on what it means to celebrate Canada Day. For many, it is a day of fireworks, barbecues, and national pride. For me, it becomes more complicated.

May is Asian Heritage Month. Today, I highlight the troubling situation facing many small business owners operating health centers, spas and massage parlours in Richmond Hill.